PHILLIES NEWS

With the Mets having lost earlier in the day, the Phils really needed another win tonight, to pull back to within 5 games of first in the NL East. Jamie Moyer toughed out 6 and 2/3rd innings, allowing just 4 runs on 8 hits, while striking out 6. Meanwhile, David Wells was lit up for 7 runs on 7 hits. Ryan Howard, alone, accounted for 5 of them with a 3 run homer in the 1st inning, a solo shot in the 4th inning and an RBI single in the 5th inning. Wes Helms also followed Howard's solo homer a couple batters later with a 2 run homer. By the time Wells left the game the Phils were up 7-1 and appeared headed to victory, but someone didn't tell Milton Bradley that the game was over. Bradley tripled and scored in the 5th, then hit a 2 run homer in the 7th and suddenly the lead was down to 7-4. Fortunately, the Phils weren't done yet either. The Bullpen shutout San Diego through the 8th inning, and the Phils came up with a final rally in the top of the 9th to put it away for good. Aaron Rowand singled in a one out run, Greg Dobbs hit a pinch bases loaded single to plate 2 more runs, and Carlos Ruiz doubled to clear the bases. By the time the smoke finally cleared the Phils were up laughingly 12-4 and not surprisingly that's how it ended. So the Phils are back over .500 again at 49-48 and as noted are back to within 5 games of the first place Mets. Thus, life remains beautiful.